Economizer controller plug and play system recognition with automatic user interface population

Abstract

An economizer controller system having a plug and play recognition approach with an automatic user interface population mechanism. A check may be made for sensors connected to the controller. The control type of the sensors may be determined. The menu structure may be repopulated based on the control type. The user interface may then be updated. This approach may be repeated as needed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An economizer controller comprising:
 a plug and play recognition system configured to detect sensors connected to the economizer controller and populate a user interface based on the sensors detected; and 
 firmware including an automatic system configuration determination routine; and 
 wherein the automatic system configuration determination routine is configured to implement at least a portion of the plug and play recognition system. 
 
     
     
       2. The economizer controller of  claim 1 , wherein the plug and play recognition system includes a sensor checker configured to detect the sensors connected to the economizer controller. 
     
     
       3. The economizer controller of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor checker is configured to indicate a control type of the sensors detected. 
     
     
       4. The economizer controller of  claim 1 , wherein the plug and play recognition system includes a mechanism for populating the user interface with a menu structure based on a control type of the sensors detected. 
     
     
       5. The economizer controller of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic system configuration determination routine is periodically executed to detect sensors connected to the economizer controller and populate a user interface based on the sensors detected. 
     
     
       6. The economizer controller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the sensors detected comprises a demand control ventilation (DCV) sensor; and 
 the economizer controller is configured to implement demand controlled ventilation using a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) economizer system in response to detecting the DCV sensor. 
 
     
     
       7. The economizer controller of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the sensors detected comprises a carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor; and 
 the economizer controller is configured to repopulate the user interface to include a demand controlled ventilation setting in response to detecting the CO2 sensor. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of operating an economizer controller, the method comprising:
 running a plug and play recognition routine using the economizer controller; and 
 executing a system configuration determination routine using the economizer controller to repeat the running of the plug and play sensor recognition routine. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the system configuration determination routine is stored in firmware of the economizer controller. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the executing the system configuration determination routine is configured to occur during operation of the economizer controller. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the executing the system configuration determination routine is automatically repeated by the economizer controller. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein running the plug and play recognition routine comprises:
 discovering one or more sensors connected to the economizer controller; and 
 populating a menu structure in response to the one or more sensors discovered. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the discovering one or more sensors connected to the economizer controller includes detecting a control types of the one or more sensors detected; and 
 the populating the menu structure in response to the one or more sensors discovered is in accordance with the control types of the one or more sensors detected. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more sensors discovered comprises a demand controlled ventilation (DCV) sensor; and 
 the DCV sensor enables the economizer controller to implement demand controlled ventilation using a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) economizer system. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more sensors discovered comprises a carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor; and 
 a CO2 level determined by the CO2 sensor causes the economizer controller to change a position of a damper of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) economizer system. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more sensors discovered comprises a carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor; and 
 in response to discovering the CO2 sensor, repopulating the menu structure to include a demand controlled ventilation setting. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more sensors discovered comprises an enthalpy sensor; and 
 the enthalpy sensor enables the economizer controller to implement free cooling using outside air. 
 
     
     
       18. A method of enabling a plug and play aspect of an economizer controller, the method comprising:
 detecting sensors connected to the economizer controller; 
 identifying a control type of the sensors connected to the economizer controller; and 
 populating a menu structure of a user interface of the economizer controller based on the control type of the sensors connected to the economizer controller. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising automatically periodically repeating the detecting, the identifying, and the populating. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising executing a system configuration determination routine stored in firmware of the economizer controller to perform the detecting, the identifying, and the populating.